The expenditure squeeze being enforced for 2012-13 and the likely freezing of the Budget size for 2013-14 could impact many welfare schemes run by the ministry of rural development (MRD) the most, although the UPA's showpiece Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) might be spared.

With economic prospects deteriorating more than initially expected by the government, the finance ministry is cutting down the budgetary allocation for this fiscal to popular schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Indira Awaas Yojana and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by 20-25%, sources said. These cut would be seen in the revised estimate in the Budget.